B008DKAYYQ EBOK (38 page)

“But I’ve got balls. Remember? And you just killed the only man I’ve ever loved.”

Uncertainty clouded Ramsey’s cold eyes. “What do you say you and me make a deal?”

“She can’t be bought, you idiot.”

Bailey gasped at Payne’s ragged voice and shifted her gaze over Ramsey’s shoulder for a split second. It was all he needed.

He clambered up, knocked the weapon away from her and backhanded her hard.

She hit the floor. Tasting blood, her cheek on fire and her senses whirling, she crab-walked backward, away from Ramsey as he retrieved his pistol and stalked her, a lethal smirk curving his lips.

Her back encountered the unyielding wall, stopping her retreat, and as he leaned over her, she tensed, ready for him to hit her again.

But instead of striking her, he tangled his free hand in her hair and dragged her forward. “Now for the real fun,” he said.

She yelped, bucked, writhed, twisted. He rammed her head back against the wall. She went still, stunned as red fireworks exploded before her eyes. Her knees would have buckled if he hadn’t held her up.
 

“Behave or I’ll smack you again,” Ramsey said.

She kneed him in the groin, her aim a bit off but close enough to cause him to grunt and wrench back. “Stupid bitch.”

Without his support, she slid down the wall and braced for the blow, expecting he’d either kill her or knock her unconscious with the next one.

A gunshot exploded.

Bailey recoiled.

Ramsey fell on her, and she screamed, hitting at him, trying to fight him off.

His weight disappeared, lifted away as if by a great gust of wind, and then a strong arm was pulling her to her feet and gathering her against a warm, hard body.

“Easy, easy.”

She recognized his voice and scent.
Cole.

She wrapped her arms around him with a relieved cry. “I knew I felt you move.”

“The guy’s a lousy shot. He missed my chest by at least three inches.”

She pulled back to look him over. “Where did he get you?”

“It’s just a flesh wound.”

“Oh, God.” He looked like he’d been shot more than once, between her blood on his pants and his blood drenching the left side of his shirt where Ramsey’s bullet had gone through his shoulder. “That’s not a flesh wound,” she said, her voice dull with horror. The floor tilted under her.

“I know, but isn’t that what I’m supposed to say?” He slipped his good arm around her, drew her against his uninjured side. “You don’t look so hot. Are you going to faint?”

Somewhere in the distance, she heard men shouting. “Federal agents!”

Bailey smiled, vaguely aware of the kisses Cole pressed to her forehead, her cheek, her mouth. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m not going to faint. I’m done being such a sissy.”

* * *

When her eyes rolled back, Cole caught her against him and slipped down the wall until he sat on the floor. Cradling her on his lap, he pressed two fingers to the pulse in her throat. Feeling the strong, reassuring beat helped clear the fuzziness from his brain.
 

“Is she …”

He turned his head, saw James watching from where he lay on the floor, his face pale from blood loss and terror, lines of strain etched on either side of his nose.

“She’s going to be fine,” Cole said, then leaned his head against the wall. He hadn’t thought she was going to be fine when she’d been pointing that pistol at her own head, and again when Ramsey had been aiming at her. Cole had thought he’d never again know such wrenching terror, only to have the moment topped when Ramsey cornered her against the wall.
 

Cole had spied James’ gun resting on the floor about three feet away. Rage had carried him to it, but stone cold calm had pulled the trigger before Ramsey could strike Bailey again. He didn’t imagine that he would ever feel guilty for shooting the brutal bastard in the back.
 

A man dressed in black paused at Cole’s feet. “FBI” was stitched on his cap in gold thread. “Yeah, we need an ambulance,” the agent said into his collar.
 

Cole gave the agent a bone-weary smile. “You guys missed the party.”

“We ran into some strong resistance outside. It’s under control now.”

Bailey stirred on his lap. Cole bent over her, ignoring the answering pain in his shoulder as he planted a soft kiss on her lips to calm her. He smiled when hers parted in response. “Welcome back,” he murmured against them.

“What’d I miss?”

“Nothing big. A couple of feds did some magic tricks.”

Her eyes widened. “Jamie—”

“Take it easy. He’s fine.”

James grunted. “I’m not fine. I’ve been shot in the freaking leg.” He laid his head back and groaned. “Christ, I guess it could be worse.”

“See?” Cole said. “Perfectly fine.”

Bailey sighed. “I can get up now.”

Sure you can.
“Let’s just sit here until the ambulance comes, okay?”

“Ambulance? I don’t want to get into an ambulance.”

“He knocked you a good one, sweetheart. Even as hard as your head is, it’s not impervious to injury.”

She smiled.
 

“What’s that about? I know you’re not smiling at the thought of someone sticking you with a needle.”

“You called me sweetheart.”

“You like that?”

“Uh huh.”

“Good, because I’m going to be doing it a lot.”

“Okay.”

Chapter 51

Nine months later

Bailey lit the last candle and clasped her unsteady hands together. Her gaze fell on the small, wrapped box sitting on the coffee table, and her stomach jittered. Thinking fresh air would help calm her down, she opened the door that led to her balcony and stepped outside into the crisp December night. Overhead, the clear sky looked like black construction paper dotted by the tip of a silver marker.

The past nine months had been a whirlwind. Payne Kincaid had survived being shot by Ramsey and was singing for the feds like a barbershop quartet. With everything Payne was telling the government about his own operation and customers, James was off the hook and witness protection was not necessary. Not that Payne was singing for all he was worth out of the goodness of his heart. He was smart enough to know that cooperation would get him out of prison much sooner than letting a jury decide his fate.
 

Likewise, James’ cooperation with the feds was rewarded with a light sentence of time served and five years of parole. Six months ago, he’d landed a job in the information technology department at
The Kendall Falls Sun
. It still blew Bailey away when he’d walk through the newsroom and toss her a grin and a wave.

In the meantime, Austin was showing his father how to outsmart video game villains. Turns out, Austin’s affinity for the games must have been genetic, because James was a pro. The last time she and Cole had had dinner with them—two nights ago—James and Austin had folded their pieces of pizza, in perfect synchronization, before chowing down. Bailey had laughed, exchanging a glance with Cole, who shrugged and said, “Like father, like son.”

Now, she was looking forward to tomorrow night—Christmas Eve—like she hadn’t in years. James and Austin were going to meet Cole’s niece and nephews. Cole’s father would be there, too, though he was well acquainted with James and Austin already. The man had turned out to be an unexpected father figure for her brother, and James had begun to do something she hadn’t heard him do since before his wife died: laugh.

A knock at the door had her hurrying off the balcony and inside, her heart racing. But when she opened the door, Cole wasn’t there.

“Hi!” Austin said, throwing his arms around her waist and hugging her.

Bailey smiled at James as she returned her nephew’s hug. “I thought you boys were going to see a movie.”

“We are,” her brother said, grinning. He looked happy and healthy, tan. Life was agreeing with him. “Austin wanted to show you something before we go.”

“Oh?” She looked down at her nephew and found him beaming up at her, a gap in his front teeth. Her stomach flipped. “Oh my gosh, you lost your first tooth!”

He nodded, wiggling the tip of his finger into the gap. “The Tooth Fairy’s going to give me money.”

“How much do you think it’s worth?” she asked.

“At least twenty.”

She arched a brow. “Cents?”

Austin rolled his eyes. “Dollars.”

She grinned at her brother. “I hope the Tooth Fairy is prepared to pay such a hefty price.”

“We’ve had a conversation,” James replied.

“Dad says he had to negotiate,” Austin said. “Isn’t that cool?”

Bailey laughed. “That is cool. Your dad’s looking out for you.”

James dropped a hand onto Austin’s shoulder. “Come on, kiddo, we need to go if we’re going to be on time for the previews.”
 

As they made their way back down the steps, she heard Austin shout, “Here comes Cole!”

Austin and the two men exchanged greetings on the stairs, Austin showing Cole his missing tooth, before Cole walked into her apartment and shrugged off his jacket. He grabbed her against him and planted a wet one on her lips, rubbing his cold nose over her cheek.

“Your nose is freezing!” she protested, laughing.

“Yeah, but it’s not wet.”

“Does that mean I have to take you to the vet?”

“As long as you don’t get me neutered.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” she said, nipping his chin.

“Hey, did you just bite me?”

“Uh huh, what’re you going to do about it?”

“How about blindfold you?”

She laughed. “We’ve been together for nine months, and I had no idea you’re kinky.”

He pulled a red bandanna out of his back pocket and snapped it out of its folded shape.

She drew back to look at him with an arched brow. “For real?”

He grinned. “Trust me?”

“With my life.”

“All right then. Turn around and let me put this on you.”

As he secured the handkerchief over her eyes, she said, “Will this take long? The lasagna and garlic bread are almost ready to come out of the oven.”

“And here I thought that heavenly scent was you.”

“Nope. I left off the eau du garlic tonight.”

He pressed his mouth to the curve of her neck. “Mmm. You smell fantastic anyway.”

His warm breath and lips against her skin, his low voice near her ear, made her pulse stumble, then sprint. She laughed, a little breathless. “Geez, Cole, I had no idea a blindfold could be such a turn-on.”

“It all depends on who’s doing the blindfolding.” He led her to the chair by the sofa. “Okay, sit.” When she was seated, she sensed his pause. “Who’s the present for?” he asked.

“You.”

“Really?” he said, a pleased smile in his voice. “What’s the occasion?”

“Hello? It’s Christmas.”

“Not for a few days.”

“You’re getting one of my presents early.”

“Hmm. A surprise.”

“Yes. It seemed you were working on delivering one yourself just a moment ago.”

“Oh, yeah.” He chuckled. “I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?”

“Just trust me. Don’t move.”

She heard him go to the front door, open it and close it. Alone, she settled into the chair, her stomach fluttery. In a way, she was eager for him to get whatever he was up to over with so they could move on to what she was up to. Her palms went damp as she thought about it, and she folded her hands in her lap.
Patience.

Cole returned and set something on the coffee table in front of her.
 

“Can I open my eyes?”

“Not yet. Is there an outlet somewhere?”

She angled her head to the right. “Behind the side table.”
 

“Ah, I see it.”

The air shifted, and she sensed he’d just gotten on his hands and knees to plug something into the outlet.

“Cole?”

“Just hang on. I’m almost ready.”

A plastic bag rustled, and then she heard the sound of tape being stripped off a roll.

“Are you wrapping my present now, right in front of me?”

“Sort of. And it’s not really in front of you if you can’t see it.”

She sighed. “Do you always leave things until the last minute?”

“I’m a reporter, aren’t I? I consider deadlines merely suggestions.” He tore off another strip of tape. “Done. You can remove the blindfold.”

Smiling, she lifted the bandanna. Sitting before her on the coffee table was a MacBook Pro with a big red bow taped to the top. She gasped. “Oh my God. You got me a new Mac?”

“Not quite.”

She glanced up at him. “I don’t get it.”